Brian Close
Dennis Brian Close
Born: 24 February 1931, Rawdon, Leeds, Yorkshire
Major Teams: Yorkshire, Somerset, England.
Known As: Brian Close
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break, Right Arm Medium
Test Debut: England v New Zealand at Manchester, 3rd Test, 1949
Last Test: England v West Indies at Manchester, 3rd Test, 1976
ODI Debut: England v Australia at Manchester, Prudential Trophy, 1972
Last ODI: England v Australia at Birmingham, Prudential Trophy, 1972
First Class Debut: Yorkshire v Cambridge University at Cambridge, 1949
Last First Class Match: D.B.Close's XI v New Zealanders at Scarborough, 1986
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1964
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 22 37 2 887 70 25.34 0 4 24 0
Balls M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 1212 56 532 18 29.55 4-35 0 0 67.3 2.63
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 3 3 0 49 43 16.33 98.00 0 0 1 0
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 3 0 21 0 - - 0 0 - 7.00
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1949 - 1977)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 786 1225 173 34994 198 33.26 52 171 813 1
Balls M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 70302 3569 30947 1171 26.42 8-41 43 3 60.0 2.64
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(career: 1972 - 1977)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 164 156 11 3458 131 23.84 2 11 53 0
Balls R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 2258 1436+ 64 22.79 4-9 2 0 35.8 3.81
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
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Profile:
Of legendary toughness, Brian Close still holds the record for
the youngest player to represent England, when, after a superb
all-round first season with Yorkshire, he was picked to play
against New Zealand at the age of 18. He never fully realised
the promise of that first season, being in and out of the
England side over the next 27 years. Batting left, and bowling
right handed, he completed the double in 1949, the youngest
player to do so. As a batsman he could defend with great
obduracy, but could attack thrillingly, although not always
wisely. He bowled medium pace and off spin, with more
consistency than his batting. He lost favour with the England
selectors after trying to hit Benaud out of the attack in the
1961 Old Trafford Test, but returned to take England to the
brink of victory in the 1963 LordŐs test against the West
Indies. In this innings, his highest in Tests, he used
unconventional tactics, coming up the wicket to the West Indies
pace bowlers. He captained Yorkshire and England with success,
but lost the England position after using delaying tactics in a
county game. Later internal politics saw him move from Yorkshire
to Somerset for the final years of his career. He was famous for
his fearless fielding at short leg, where he would rarely duck
or move to avoid a hard hit ball. Several catches were made off
rebounds from various parts of his body, notably a batsman who
was caught at cover after pulling a ball squarely onto CloseŐs
balding forehead. He was also known for his courage against fast
bowling, memorably so in 1976, when he was recalled at the age
of 45 to face the fearsome West Indies pace trio of Holding,
Roberts and Daniel. Subjected to a barrage of short pitched
bowling in less than favourable light, Close never flinched,
and, as always, refused to rub the bruises when hit. In later
years he played in the Lancashire League then returned to
Yorkshire, and much controversy as chair of the cricket
committee. He was an England selector in the late 70Ős (Dave
Liverman, 1998).
Last Updated: Monday, 29-Jul-2002 04:45:53 GMT
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